Articles
This is Good – 1 Timothy
This is Good – 1 Timothy
This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. (1 Tim. 2:3-6).
Having enjoined believers to pray, Paul states that such is good and pleasing in the sight of God. He then adds some profound statements concerning our God.
He is our Savior. It is interesting that God is so often thought of only as the judge. While such is true, it is also true that God doesn’t want to condemn people. God desires that ALL people would be saved yet not all will be saved. God has put several conditions upon such salvation. Here it is ‘coming to the knowledge of the truth’. In 2 Peter 3:9 it is repentance. The sad truth is some people refuse to keep God in their knowledge and many simply refuse to repent.
God desired this salvation of people so much that He provided the very means of such salvation in Jesus. The Word became flesh (cp. John 1:14). He then ‘gave himself’ as a ransom. By his death he provided for us to be redeemed from the penalty due for our sins. In HIM we are redeemed, forgiven, declared righteous, adopted as children, and many other things.
Paul asserts however that there is only one mediator through whom men can be reconciled unto God. There is only one way to be saved. There is only one way to return unto God. As Peter said: there is no other name given whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). As Jesus himself said: “No one comes unto Father except by me” (John 14:6).
Narrow minded people forget how broad the desire of God is and how much God has done to provide for all people to be saved. They complain about how narrow minded the message of the gospel is. The way to God is narrow yet it is open unto all who will.
It is an awesome thought that God WANTS us to be saved. Will you disappoint Him?
Hugh DeLong
